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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Consultant led?

20 replies

hellosunshineagainx · 04/08/2022 20:49

Had my booking appointment today and because of my last birth midwife says I will be consultant led. Does this mean I will have midwife and dr appointments or just doctors? Didn't think to ask at the time and tbh she didn't even explain what being consultant led means

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Upsadiddles · 04/08/2022 20:51

I had the same standard midwife appointments, plus a couple of additional appointments with the consultant.

bunnypenny · 04/08/2022 20:51

Usual Midwife appts but you’ll have a consultant appt around 17weeks (I think) and then another at 36 weeks to discuss birth.

HSKAT · 04/08/2022 20:53

Same midwife apps but you'll have additional apps with a consultant, maybe few other scans depending on cause

Sprogonthetyne · 04/08/2022 20:55

I saw the consultant twice in addition to the normal midwife appointments. Once at around 16 weeks when we talked about what precautions might be needed (an extra scan & heart check for me, but will depend on your risk factors). Then again at 36 weeks to look at birth options, and in my case book ELCS.

Frazzled2207 · 04/08/2022 20:56

Upsadiddles · 04/08/2022 20:51

I had the same standard midwife appointments, plus a couple of additional appointments with the consultant.

This. So everything was normal plus about 2 extra appointments at the hospital

SunshineAndFizz · 04/08/2022 20:57

As others have said, you'll have your usual midwife appointments plus extra ones with the consultant.

How many/when will depend on the reason you're high risk. I got a letter telling me the date of my first one (had it on the same day as my 12 week scan), and at each appointment they booked in the next one.

hewouldwouldnthe · 04/08/2022 20:59

consultant also oversees the midwives.

CurbsideProphet · 04/08/2022 21:00

I'm Consultant led. I see a Community Midwife regularly (this isn't the norm) and saw Consultant at 20 weeks, 28 weeks, and will see her again at 32 weeks. You might only see the Consultant once and be referred back to just midwife care. It seems to depend on why they think a Consultant needs to oversee your care.

Bubbles021 · 04/08/2022 21:42

Depends on your reasoning for being consultant led.
I have been consultant led this time around due to the loss of my son at 33 weeks last year. For me it meant I saw my obstetrician around every 4-6 weeks, and growth scans from 28 weeks, though like I say it may be different depending upon the reason for needing to be consultant led

Lilbunnyfufu · 04/08/2022 21:57

I was consultant led for my last 2 pregnancies I had consultant appointment once a month has well has the usual midwife appointments.
I found the appointments to be a waste of time they did exactly the same has the midwife did.
The only good thing was I got 2/3 extra scans that I wouldn't have got if not consultant led.

This time I'm also consultant led but will not be having monthly appointments I had one at 16 weeks and won't see her again until 32 weeks. She has arranged 2 extra scans and 32 weeks and 36 weeks.

Original poster

hellosunshineagainx · 05/08/2022 00:14

Thank you everypne your responses have been really helpful. She didn't explain why I'm consultant led just said it was because of my previous birth.

I had a failed induction which led to an emergency C-section but i then haemorrhaged and was in the intensive care bit. Not sure why that makes me consultant led, at the time no one even explained why I haemorrhaged or the cause of anything that happened 🤷‍♀️

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Hill1991 · 05/08/2022 00:29

I was consultant led I had a few extra midwife appointments and then consultant appointments on the days I was having a scan which I had extra of

Hiddenvoice · 05/08/2022 00:32

I had a consultant led pregnancy. I had the same amount of midwife appointments but at 16 weeks I had a phone call with a consultant who decided next steps. I then had growth scans and 3 hospital appointments with a different consultant. At 34 weeks I met my own consultant who discussed birthing options.
I felt really well looked after and loved having the extra scans!

TamSamLam · 05/08/2022 01:11

It'll be because of the haemorrhage and cs. Depending on the cause you might be at higher risk of either happening again, plus risks of vbac if you choose that. They should explain the cause, if known, and discuss any options for limiting the risks. For example, you'll be recommended a hospital birth.

Upsadiddles · 05/08/2022 09:34

I was consultant led because of previous failed induction and EMCS too (no haemorrhage though. I also had pregnancy induced hypertension but would have been consultant led without that anyway). The first extra appointment I had was around 16 weeks I think, discussed the previous pregnancy and my thoughts on the upcoming birth. It was just a chat over the phone. She then booked me in for growth scans at 28,32 and 36 weeks because of the previous BP issues, and I was booked to see a doctor at each of the 3 scans - routine chat, BP and urine check with the 3rd appointment also to finalise birth plans (elcs). This pregnancy went a bit tits up at the 28 week one so ended up in PAU regularly which replaced the planned appointments, so not sure if anything else would have happened at the later ones. I found having the consultant appointments reassuring, and I got the lovely elcs I wanted. For you I’d guess the main point will be discussion of vbac vs elcs. Good luck with your pregnancy!

hannahbanana2007 · 05/08/2022 09:38

Depending on the reason for being consultant led, it may also mean you are not able to birth in a midwife led unit, but this is something they will discuss with you. In some cases as PP have mentioned you may get signed off from being consultant led pre-birth and then you can choose MLU if you wanted

Original poster

hellosunshineagainx · 05/08/2022 10:47

I already have it down that I am having an elective c-section, midwife has put it all over my notes. No one will make me change my mind 🤣

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Upsadiddles · 05/08/2022 13:26

hellosunshineagainx · 05/08/2022 10:47

I already have it down that I am having an elective c-section, midwife has put it all over my notes. No one will make me change my mind 🤣

Mine was fabulous hellosunshineagainx . In that case I’d assume it’ll be one of your consultant’s appointments where they will book in a date etc for you. My consultant was very supportive and didn’t try to make me change my mind at all, and neither did my midwife. I felt they thought I was making the right decision. Hope you get the same level of support.

ChagSameachDoreen · 05/08/2022 14:53

I'm consultant led due to me being ancient at 41 and having had a c-section with DD. The only differences seem to be that I have a call with a consultant at around 25 weeks, then weekly growth scans after 30 weeks.

PinkButtercups · 05/08/2022 15:02

I was consultant and midwife led last time for GD.

Having twins this time and consultant and midwife led again but originally my midwife was at a clinic near me but because I'm having twins I went over to hospital care so have the twin midwife and the twin consultant.

Growth scan every 4 weeks after 20 weeks which will have a consultant appt straight after every scan.

Midwife I won't see as much but they're still separate appointments at the hospital.

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